Thousands of HISD high school students will take the SAT during the school day on April 5, and now there is one more reason for them to start preparing early for the important college-admission test.

HISD is kicking off a challenge among the district’s schools that will reward them for having the most students using Khan Academy to prepare for the SAT.

The three high schools with the most usage between now and the administration of the SAT in April will receive financial support to enhance their college centers and/or support for college visits. Because college readiness starts early, elementary and middle schools are part of the challenge as well. All the elementary and middle schools have to do is arrange college visits for students and then Tweet pictures of those events to @HISD2College and tag them #HISDKhanDoIt.

“To help their schools win, all the students have to do is log into Khan Academy and practice,” said HISD Chief Academic Officer Grenita Lathan. “Students who practice for the SAT are better prepared for the exam and get higher scores. Doing well on the test provides students a greater opportunity for college acceptance and scholarships.”

The district is already seeing success with students who use Khan Academy. North Forest High School senior Wiston Ocoro raised his score 390 points so that he could get into Oklahoma University, and Booker T. Washington senior Valencia Gray boosted her score by 470 points.

“I play sports, and I needed to raise my math score so that I could get into a Division I school,” Gray said. She was named a Khan Academy ambassador and went to the Council of Great City Schools conference in Miami, where she met Khan Academy founder Salman Khan and College Board President David Coleman. “Khan is great because you can access it from anywhere—on your phone, tablet, or computer,” she said.

In the coming weeks, all middle and high school leaders will be working to ensure every student has College Board and Khan Academy accounts, and that the two are linked. Principals are being urged to make time during the school day for their students to log on and practice.

As of Jan. 11, Furr High School students were leading the district with the largest number of students using Khan Academy.

Free personalized SAT practice is now available for all HISD students at KhanAcademy.org/SAT.